Calcining-furnace.



No. 640,058. I Patented Dec. 26, I899. A. H. WETHEY.

GALCINING FURNACE.

(Application filed Ian. 24, 1896.)

(No Model.) 3%

4 Sheets-Sheet WITNESSES: Ill/VE/VTOI? A NOR/V578.

THE nonms PETERS-co, PNOTO L|THO., WASHINGTON, nv c.

hww g.

Patented Dec. 26, I899.

4 SheetsShaet 2,

IIVVE/VTO/i ATTORNEYS.

A. H. WETHEY.

CALGINING FURNACE.

(Apphcatmn filed Jan. 24 1896 (No Model.)

THE Nonms PEvER 60.. PMOTO-LITHQ, WASHINGTON, n. c.

No. 640,058. Patented Dec. 26, I899.

A. u. WETHEY.

CALCINING FURNACE.

[Application filed Jan. 24, 1896.) [No Modal.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

WITNESSES:

ATTORNEYS.

Tn: ucmms PETERS on Pnmuumu. wnsnma'fou, n. c,

No. 640,058. Patented Dec. 26, I899. A. H. WETHEY.

CALCINING FURNACE.

(Application filed Jan. 24, 1896.)

4 Sheats8heet 4.

(No Model.)

m A m IIVVEA/TOI? ATTORNEYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE.

ARTHUR HARVEY WVETHEY, OF BUTTE, MONTANA.

CALClNlNG-FURNACE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 640,058, dated December26, 1899. Application filed January 24, 1896. Serial No. 576,713. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR HARVEY VVETHEY, of Butte, in the county ofSilver Bow and State of Montana, have invented a new and ImprovedOalcining-Furnace, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved singlecalcining and desulfuriz'ing furnace designed for rapidly and thoroughlydesulfurizing ores and other material in a ground, pulverized, crushed,or concentrated state and without loss or waste of material, saidfurnace being arranged in such manner that the plows, stirrers, and likedevices for agitating and movingthe material in the hearths are actuatedand carried forward by machinery located on the outer sides of thehearths.

This furnace is an improvement upon double-hearth furnaces such as shownin my Patents No. 559,647, dated May 5, 1896, and No. 565,313, datedAugust 4, 1896, in which superposed hearths are arranged in pairs oropposite each other in the same horizontal plane, a traveling rake beingadapted to work on each such pair of hearths and supported by andtraveling on rails arranged in the central space between the hearths. Mypresent invention comprises a series of superposed single hearthssupported by two opposite rows of vertical posts, between which and thelongitudinal sides of the hearths are arranged on suitable supportsconnected with the said posts the rails whereon the rake-wheels travel.The brickwork of the hearths and arches is carried by longitudinalI-beams extending along both sides of each hearth and supported bydevices connected with the vertical posts. This construction andarrangement of parts have been found to possess important advantages invarious particulars.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improvement. Fig. 2 is an enlargedcross-section of the same on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is anenlarged sectional plan view of the same on the lines 3 3 of Figs. 1 and7. Fig. 4 is an enlarged side elevation of the tripping-door theimprovement on the line 6 6 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a cross-section of the improvement, showing the end door; andFig.8 is a sectional side elevation of the same on the line 8 8 of Fig.7.

The improved furnace is provided with a number of hearths A A A Alocated one above the other and connected with each other by openings A(see Fig. 3,) so that a continuous chamber is formed for the ore orother material to pass through and also for the combustion-gases totravel with the ore from one hearth to another, so as to successivelypass through all the hearths, as hereinafter more fully set forth. Theupper hearth A is provided on one end and preferably in the top with anore-supply hopper B (see Fig. 1) for feeding ore and like material intothis end of the hearth A the ore then being moved forward in thedirection of the arrow a along the bottom or floor of the hearth bystirring and moving devices 0 until the ore reaches the opening A,through which it drops into the right end of the next lower hearth A Theore is now moved to the left-that is, in the inverse direction of thearrow aby the stirring devices 0 on their return movement until the orereaches and drops through an opening similar to the opening A andlocated in the bottom of the hearth A near the left end thereof. The orenow passes into the third hearth A and is moved along the same in thedirection of the arrow a by another set of stirring devices 0 until itreaches and drops through an opening similar to the opening A in theright end of the lower hearth A, in which the ore is moved along to theleft by the returning stirring devices 0 to finally pass into hoppers Afrom which the ore can be discharged into a wagon or cart D, arrangedbelow said hoppers, as indicated in Fig. 1. (See also Fig. 2.) It willbe seen that the ore passes successively from one hearth to another,finally reaching the lowermost hearth A. The heating gases or productsof combustion follow the same path as the ore, passing from one hearthto the next one below through the openings, such as A whereby one hearthcommunicates with the adjoining one. To secure this result, I providethe following arrangement:

On each side of the furnace is located a fire-box E, of any approvedconstruction, receiving its fuel-supply from a delivery-chute F, asindicated in Fig. 1. The products of combustion pass from the fire-boxthrough a channel E into the hearth A at the top thereof and next to theore-supply, so that said products of combustion travel forward in thehearth A with the ore to pass into the next hearth A and along the sameto the left, then down through the hearth A and forwardly therein asuitable distance, and thus down to the lower hearths A and A in thesame manner as has been described above with reference to the ore.Between the hearths A and A and communicating with the latter isarranged an outlet-channel G. The products of combustion from thefire-boxE after passing through the hearths A A and A and the productsof combustion from the ore still burning in the hearth A pass throughthe opening or channel G to the upper ends of stacks G, arranged on thesides of the furnace. By this arrangement the fumes and heat of the twoupper hearths A A travel downward to reach the stacks G, while the fumesand heat in the two lower hearths A and Atravel upward to reach saidstacks. The lower ends G of the stacks G discharge into alongitudinally-extending flue H, arranged under the lowermost hearth Ato carry the waste gases to a chimney connected with said flue.

It will be observed that in the construction above described the gasesfrom the fire-box E travel onlythrough the hearths A A and A, while inthe lowermost hearth A the ore is heated only by its own products ofcombustion.

The superposed hearths are separated vertically by spaces which formlongitudinal slots A at the sides, and such slots are normally closed bysuitable trip-doors I. (See Figs. 4 and 5.) Stirrers C C, &c., areadapted to operate on the several hearths, which consist, primarily, oftransverse shafts having radial flanges or shovels for stirring the oreand coal. The ends of such shafts are supported by carriages J J, &c.,that run on rails J supported in the space between the sides of thehearths and the posts N, whereby the said carriages are adapted totravel longitudinally on the outer sides of the furnace and shieldedfrom the heat in the hearth by the doors I, above mentioned, saidcarriages being propelled forwardly in the direction of the arrow a. onthe outer sides of the hearths A and A and returned in the oppositedirection on the outer sides of the hearths A and A by suitablepropelling mechanisms, preferably in the form of endless chains orcables K K, respectively, passing over driven pulleys L L, respectively,on the front end of the furnace and over idle pulleys L L respectively,arranged on the opposite or rear end of the furnace. (See Figs. 1 and3.)

In order to render the above-described arrangement practical, Iconstruct the furnace in detail as follows:

Two parallel rows of posts N N are erected on suitable foundations, andthe posts are placed suitable distances apart, with the posts in therows arranged directly opposite each other, as indicated in Fig. 3. Eachpost N or N is formed of two vertically-disposed beams connected witheach other by castings or brackets O, supporting transverse beams P,connecting two opposite posts with each other, and from such beamsdepend U -shaped bolts or stirrups Q attached to the longitudinalI-beams Q and Q, upon which the arch rests. Metal castings Q are boltedto and connect these beams and the posts N N, and thus serve as lateralbraces forthe arch and also as brackets affording vertical support forthe arch, whereby they supplement one of the functions of the aforesaidtransverse beams and the U-bolts above referred to against lateralthrust of the arch, as well as assist in carrying or verticallysupporting the weight of the arch and hearth with their side walls. Tothe under side of the longitudinal beams Q Q are securely boltedauxiliary beams or an gle-irons R, opposite to which are arranged likeangle-irons R, forming with the said an gle-irons R the slots A for thepassage of the ends of the stirring devices traveling through thehearth.

Resting on the transverse beams P are longitudinally-extending I-beamsS, carrying sheets or plates S, on which rest the floors S of thehearths, made of brick or like material,it being understood that eachset of trans verse beams is for supporting the floors for the hearths A,A and A the floor for the lowermost hearth being directly built up fromthe ground by suitable brickwork.

The angle-irons R, previously referred to, form braces for the lowersides A of the hearth, the sides extending a short distance above thefloors S to prevent the ore or like material under treatment frompassing into and through the slots A to the outside. The angle-irons Rare securely bolted to castings or brackets T, attached to the verticalbeams of the posts N N, the inner ends of said brackets being preferablywalled in in the sides A, as indicated in Fig. 2. The brackets T'alsosupport longitudinally-extending rails J on which travel the wheels ofthe carriages J J, it being understood that said rails and carriages area suitable distance from the sides ofthe hearth, so that the heat fromwithin the hearth does not injure said carriages and the propellingmechanism for the same. Thus sufficient room is left between the sidesof the hearth and the posts N N for the carriages and working machineryused for propelling the stirring devices.

Each arch Q supports a transversely-extending brick wall Q on each sideof a transverse beam P, so that the latter is protected from the heat,as there is an air-space around the beam from outside to outside of thefurnace. The brick walls Q connect with the floor above the arch,thereby forming deadair spaces for preventing loss of heat by ra diationand insuring a light but strong construction of the furnace.

Each of the stirring devices C C is provided with shovels or stirrers 0secured angularly on a hollow tube or shaft 0 connected at its outerends by a threaded sleeve 0 to a metallic cable K, attached to a plate Jforming the frame for the carriage J or J, said plate supporting thecarriage-wheels J which travel on the track-rails J inside of the postsN N. The driving-pulleysLL are driven by suitable belts or cables froman overhead pulley L and the idle pulleys L and L are preferably mountedin journalboxes L fitted to slide longitudinally in suitable guidewaysand engaged by weights L for holding said journal-boxes and idle pulleysin an innermost position to hold the chains or cables K K in acomparatively taut condition.

Each outer end of a hearth is closed by suitable doors U, (see Figs. 1,7, and 8,) preferably two in number, and mounted to swing and eachcarrying on its pintle U a counterbalancing-Weight U to permit the doorto open for the entrance or exit of the stirring devices, said door thenautomatically closing as soon as the stirring devices have passed. Thetwo doors U at each end are placed far enough apart so that one isclosed while the other is opened by the stirring device to prevent anyescape of the heat within the hearth. The doors I for the slots A andshown in detail in Figs. 4 and 5 are preferably pivoted at I at oneupper corner to the angle-iron R, while the lower edge is adapted torest on a suitable lug 1 secured to the outside of the lower angle-ironR. Nowit will be seen that when the sleeve 0 of a stirring devicestrikes the edge of the door I then the latter is swung upward into theposition shown in Fig. 4 to permit the passage of the sleeve, and whenthe latter has passed a door then the door swings back by its owngravity to its normal position, resting with its lower edge on the lug 1as will be understood by reference to said Figs. 4 and 5. The fire-boxesE are supported from some of the posts N N,

Y and in addition columns E are employed, as

will be readily understood by reference to Fig. 2.

It is understood that by the arrangement described a furnace of anydesired length can be built or an existing furnace lengthened, ifdesired. It will further be understood that I do not limit myself to theconnection of the fire-boxes E with the upper hearth A at the pointindicated, as the fire-boxes can be connected with any of the hearths atany desired point. For instance, another fire-box may be connected withthe second hearth A as indicated at E in Fig. 1, or a fire-box may beconnected directly with the lowermost hearth A,

as indicated at E in the same figure.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent- 1. A furnace structure comprising aseries ofsuperposed horizontal hearths and roofarches therefor, the same beingseparated by slots at the sides, two opposite rows of vertical postsarranged along the side walls of the hearths, longitudinal beams uponwhich the arches rest at the sides, means connecting the said beams withthe posts and supporting them ,upon and spacing them from the latter,rakes arranged on the hearths, and projecting through the side slots,carriages for carryin g the ends of the rakes, rails for said carriages,and supports for the rails upon which the latter are held in the lateralspaces intermediate the posts and sides of the hearths, substantially asdescribed.

2. A furnace having two or more superposed ovens with the roof of oneoven and the floor of the one next above connected together, andprovided along their sides with horizontal longitudinally arranged metalbeams, the said ovens having open slots at the sides, a series ofvertical posts offset from the horizontal longitudinal beams, means forsustaining the said roofs and floors, said means being arranged betweensaid connected roofs and floors on one hand and the vertical posts onthe other, and connected and supported upon the vertical posts, a rakeextending through the oven, and having upon its ends truckwheelsarranged between the longitudinal horizontal beams and posts, and railsor trackways exterior of the furnace-walls and upon which theabove-named wheels run.

3. In a furnace, the combination with vertical side beams, or posts, ofa series of vertically-superposed ovens having open side slots andarranged between the said posts with a space intervening the posts andovens proper at each side, said ovens having the roof of one connectedto the floor of the one next above, and said combined roof and floorbeing connected to and supported upon the vertical posts by supportsextending across the side spaces between the posts and ovens.

4. In a furnace structure having heatingchambers provided withlongitudinal openings through their side walls, the combination withhorizontal longitudinally-disposed beams carrying the floors androof-arches of the heating-chambers, of vertical supporting posts orcolumns ranged along the side walls of the heating-chambers adjacent tothe longitudinal openings therein and spaced away from said side walls,brackets interposed between the vertical and horizontal beams andsecured to each, transverse beams and stirrups connecting said posts andhorizontal beams, rails and attachments supported upon the verticalposts and interposed between the latter and side walls of theheating-chambers, for supporting said ails, substantially as and for thepurpose set orth.

5. In a furnace structure, having heatingchambers with longitudinalopenings through their side walls, the combination with 'horizontallongitudinally-disposed beams, carryingthe floors and roof-arches ofsuch heating-chambers, of vertical posts ranged along the side walls ofthe heating-chamber adjacent to the longitudinal openings therein, andspaced away from said side walls, devices connected with the verticalposts and constituting a partial means of support for the horizontalbeams, the same being interposed between said vertical posts and theside walls of the heating-chambers, transverse beams and stirrupsconnecting said posts and horizontal beams, and a track supportedbetween the side walls and posts, as described.

6. A calcining-furnace comprising a horizontal hearth and roof separatedby longitudinal side slots, a series of vertical posts arranged alongthe sides thereof, and spaced away therefrom, partial means of supportfor said hearth which extend between it and the posts and connect itwith the latter, a rake that runs over the hearth, wheels for said rake,means for moving the rake, and rails arranged with said wheels in thespaces intervening the hearth and posts, and means for supporting saidrails, substantially as shown and described.

7. A calcining-furnace comprising a series of horizontal hearths androofs arranged one above another, but separated by horizontal spaces andhaving longitudinal side beams, vertical posts arranged on both sides ofthe hearths, and spaced away therefrom, means for connecting the sidebeams with and supporting them upon said posts, rails arranged betweenthe posts and sides of the hearths, means for supporting said rails,rakes working longitudinally of the hearths, and carriages for the rakeswhich run on said rails.

8. A calcining-furnace, comprising a series of horizontal hearths androofs for the same, longitudinal beams upon which the hearths rest atthe sides,vertical posts arranged alon gside the body of the furnace andspaced away therefrom, supports for the said beams which are connectedwith the said posts, rails supported intermediately of the posts andhearths, horizontal spaces or slots that intervene the hearths and theirroofs and extend through the sides and ends of the furnace, stirringdevices adapted to pass over the hearths and travel on the aforesaidrails, and tripping-doors adapted to normally close the side slots andallow passage of the tripping devices,substantially as shown anddescribed.

9. A calcining-furnace comprising a series of superposed hearths androofs,vertical posts arranged alongside the same, and spaced awaytherefrom, hearth-floor supports connected with the posts and extendinginwardly therefrom, a space or slot that intervenes each hearth and itsroof and extends through the sides and ends of the furnace-body,stirring devices adapted to travel through such side slots or spaces,tripping-doors for normally closing the slots, rails supported away fromthe sides of the hearths and between the latter and the posts, andcarriages supporting the stirring devices, and adapted to travel on saidrails, substantially as shown and described.

10. A calcining-furnace comprising superposed hearth-floors androof-arches separated by horizontal spaces which open at the sides andends as continuous slots, vertical posts alongside the hearths andspaced away therefrom, supports extending inwardly from the posts andconnected with the hearth floors and arches, rails supported in thespace between the posts and hearths, and a stirring device which extendsthrough the side slots and passes bodily out through the end slots andaround the end of the hearth-floor, as shown and described.

11. A calcining-furnace comprising a series of connected hearths oneabove the other and forming a continuous roasting-chamber through whichis adapted to travel the ore or other material to be treated, fire-boxesdischarging into one of said hearths and stacks leading from one of saidhearths for carrying off all fumes, said stacks discharging at theirlower ends into a longitudinal flue connected with a chimney,substantially as shown and described.

12. A calcining-furnace comprising rows of posts, transverse beamssupported thereby, longitudinal I-beams carried by said transversebeams, and hearths or floors whose sides rest upon such beams,substantially as shown and described.

13. A calcining-furnace comprising rows of posts, transverse beamsconnecting opposite posts with each other, longitudinal I-beams carriedby said transverse beams, floors supported by said I-beams, a second setof longitudinal I-beams suspended from said transverse beams, androof-arches carried by the last mentioned I-beams, substantially asshown and described.

14. A calcining-furnace comprising rows of posts, transverse beamsconnecting opposite posts with each other, longitudinal I-beams carriedby said transverse beams, floors supported by said I-beams, a second setof longitudinal I-beams suspended from said transverse beams,roof-arches carried by the lastmentioned I-beams, brackets attached tosaid posts, and rails carried by said brackets, substantially as shownand described.

15; A calcining-furnace comprising rows of posts, transverse beamsconnecting opposite posts with each other, longitudinal I-beams carriedby said transverse beams, floors supported by said I-beams, a second setof longitudinal I-beams suspended from said transverse beams,roof-arches carried by the lastmentioned I-beams, brackets attached tosaid IIO posts, rails carried by said brackets, angleirons secured tothe suspended I-beams and said brackets, and the longitudinal slots inthe sides of the hearths,substantially as shown and described.

16. A calcining-furnace comprising rows of vertical posts, transversebeams connecting opposite posts with each other, longitudinal I-bearnscarried by said transverse beams, floors supported by said I-beams, asecond set of longitudinal I-beams suspended from said transverse beams,brackets attached to the vertical posts and partially supporting saidsecond set of longitudinal I-beams,roof-arches carried by the second setof longitudinal I- bearns and separated from the fioors by side spacesor slots,brackets attached to said posts, rails carried by saidbrackets, exterior of the furnace walls, and carriages arranged totravel on said rails and carrying rake-bearin g devices,substantially asshown and described.

17. A calcining-furnace comprising rows of Vertical posts arranged inpairs, brackets connecting the posts of each pair, transverse beamsresting on said brackets between the posts, longitudinal beams supportedby the transverse beams, and a hearth carried by the longitudinal beams,substantially as described.

18. A calcining-furnace comprising two opposite rows of vertical postsspaced away from its side walls, hearth and rail supports extendinginwardly from the posts, rails arranged between the said walls andposts, a plurality of superposed hearths or floors and roof-archeslocated in difierent horizontal planes and having side and end wallsprovided with spaces which separate the hearths vertically from theirarches, said walls having continuous open slots transverse beams andstirrups partially supporting the arches and connecting the hearths withthe posts, chains extending parallel to the side slots, and exterior ofthe furnace-walls, pulleys on which said chains run ,and stirringdevices secured to said chains and having their ends extendedtransversely through the said side slots, whereby the stirring devicesmay traverse and be carried from one hearth-floor around its end toanother substantially as shown and described.

19. In a furnace structure, the combination with superposed hearths orovens and their roof-arches, said ovens having walls provided with openslots, of vertical parallel posts spaced away from said side walls,transverse beams carried by said posts, longitudinal beams upon whichthe sides of the arches rest, stirrups which connect the two sets ofbeams, and brackets which are interposed between the beams and posts,substantially as shown and described.

20. A calcining-furnace provided with a hearth having a continuouslongitudinal slot in each side, tripping-doors for closing such slots,said doors overlapping one another, and each door being pivoted at oneupper corner and supports arranged to engage the doors at their loweredges, substantially as shown and described.

ARTHUR HARVEY WVETl-IEY.

Witnesses:

THEO. G. HOSTER, A. A. HOPKINS.

